James "Jim" StynesOAM (23 April 1966 – 20 March 2012) was a prominent Irish-born Australian footballer who was best known for his career as a professional Australian rules football player and administrator. He was also a philanthropist, charity worker and writer.

Following his football career, Stynes focused on youth work using his profile to launch the Reach Foundation, which he co-founded in 1994. As a result of his work with young people in Victoria he was named Victorian of the Year twice, in 2001 and 2003, and with the expanded profile of Reach nationally, awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2007.

Stynes also served as president of the Melbourne Football Club from 2008 and was involved in fundraising efforts which brought the club out of debt. In 2009, Stynes was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma and continued to work during his treatment for brain metastasis. He died in March 2012 and was honoured by a state funeral held at St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne on 27 March 2012.[1]

In 1984 Stynes responded to an advertisement in his local paper placed by the Melbourne Football Club that offered two scholarships all expenses paid to play football and attend university in Victoria, Australia. Applicants were required to be under 18, over 183 cm and at county standard.[8] Tall and skinny Stynes was selected, along with James Fahey and brought to Victoria to undergo a crash course in Australian Rules and signed a two-year contract, hoping to use the money to fund his way through college. Stynes was promised accommodation with an additional $60 a week, clothing and $50 a game. He arrived in Australia on 7 November 1984.[9]

Stynes debuted for the Melbourne under 19s team in 1985 and finished the season runner-up in the best and fairest.[3]

In 1987 he played in a night premiership side. The Melbourne coaching panel's perseverance with him paid off when Stynes made his senior debut for Melbourne in 1987 at Waverley Park against the Geelong Football Club.[9] He was dropped after a poor performance; however, he returned to the senior side later in the season against the Brisbane Bears. In the 1987 preliminary final, Melbourne was leading Hawthorn as the final siren sounded, when Stynes made the mistake of running across a mark, which resulted in a free for the opposition. His error resulted in a 15-metre penalty which Gary Buckenara goaled after the final siren for a two-point win.[11]

The next year, Melbourne made the Grand Final. Despite being beaten by 96 points, Stynes was voted Melbourne's best player of the match.

Stynes' best year came in 1991, playing a consistent season he became favourite to win the Brownlow Medal and did so with 25 five votes clear of any other player. In doing so he became the first (and so far only) overseas-born player to win the award. Along with the Brownlow he was also awarded the AFL Players AssociationMVP award and was selected in the All-Australian team and won his first best and fairest at Melbourne. Media commentators noted that Stynes had used his extraordinary endurance to redefine the role of the professional ruckman. While many of his opponents were over 2 metres tall, Stynes played in the style of a tall ruck rover and instead of focusing on hit outs and play in bursts, ran the whole game gaining possession across the whole ground.[12] This was a model of play which many other mid-sized ruckmen such as Geelong's John Barnes were able to successfully follow.

An exceptional run of consecutive games which had begun in Round 18 of 1987[10] almost ended with a severe rib injury in 1993 Stynes sustained from a collision with teammate David Neitz in a match against North Melbourne Football Club. He was treated at Epworth Hospital for a compound rib fracture. Despite being ruled out by medical officers for six weeks, he convinced his coach Neil Balme to pass him in the club fitness test and wore a chest guard in order to play the following Friday night.[citation needed] Stynes finished the season with his consecutive games record unblemished and achieved All-Australian selection for the second time.[10]

In 1994, he suffered a medial ligament tear, but continued to play through it, going on to string together three fine seasons between 1995 and 1997 in which he won consecutive club champion awards.[10] In round 9 of 1996, Stynes played his 203rd consecutive game, breaking the record held by Jack Titus since 1943.[13]

Stynes broke his hand early in the 1998 season, effectively ending his streak of consecutive games finally at 244. He retired from professional football at the conclusion of the season, having played a total of 264 AFL games all at Melbourne, placing him second on the club's all-time games tally.[10]

In 1994, Stynes co-founded (with film director Paul Currie)[15]The Reach Foundation and became a prominent youth worker in Victoria. Reach believes that every young person should have the support and self-belief they need to fulfil their potential and dare to dream. Reach achieves this by creating safe and supportive spaces where teenagers can share stories and experiences honestly. A place where they can increase their self-belief, discover who they are and recognise that they are not alone. Les Twentyman in 2010 criticised Styne's Reach foundation for only helping rich kids in the eastern suburbs after his western suburbs based charity, which helped mainly financially disadvantaged kids, was denied funding by the federal government but the Reach foundation received four million dollars.[16]

In addition to Reach, Stynes worked on government advisory boards including the 1997 Victorian Government Suicide Task Force and the Federal Minister For Youth's Youth Advisory Consultative Forum Committee.

Stynes authored several books. His written works include two autobiographies: My Journey (2012) with Warwick Green and Whatever It Takes (1996) with Jim Main [17] along with children's Self-help books co-written by Dr Jon Carnegie including Heroes (2003)[18] and Finding Heroes (2006).[19][20]

In 2008 Stynes began expressing an interest in becoming chairman.[21] In June 2008, Melbourne's chairman, Paul Gardner, stepped down as president to make way for Stynes.[22] His early-stated main goal at this stage was to increase the Melbourne membership number – especially the junior membership base as stated on The Footy Show on 12 June 2008. Shortly following his election he declared his staunch stance against any proposed relocation of the club to the Gold Coast or elsewhere.[23]

In December 2011, Stynes handed his number 11 guernsey to new recruit Mitch Clark.[25]

In February 2012, Stynes stepped down from the presidency of Melbourne, citing a desire to devote his energies towards his family and wellbeing. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Don McLardy.[26]

On 2 July 2009, Stynes held a media conference to inform the public that he had developed cancer. A lump in his back was shown to be melanoma and tests revealed that his cancer had metastasised.[34] Stynes intended to make clear that he was not stepping down from his role as President of the Melbourne Football Club but instead just taking a break to seek treatment.[35] On 4 April 2010 it was revealed that his condition had worsened and three days later he had surgery for brain metastasis.[36] Stynes continued to work during his treatment and participated in the filming of a television documentary about his life and his battle with cancer "Every Heart Beats True" produced by friends Jules Lund and Reach co-founder Paul Currie which aired on 19 September 2010 on the Nine Network.[37]

Stynes died at his St Kilda home on 20 March 2012, aged 45.[38][39][40][41] He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at a "treasured spot" he chose before he died.[4]

Former teammate and captain Garry Lyon gave an emotional tribute to Stynes on The Footy Show saying "Jimmy refused to let the game define who he was. It was just a part of him and it allowed us to marvel at his determination, unwavering self-belief, resilience, strength, skill, endurance and courage" and that his good friend "was secure enough to know that displaying vulnerability can be a strength and not a weakness".[45]

The Jim Stynes Achievement Scholarships, a $3 million AUD 5 year partnership with the Australian government, Reach Foundation and Australian Football League for children of indigenous or multicultural backgrounds, or from disadvantaged backgrounds was announced following Stynes' death.[50]

Stynes' family has a strong history in Gaelic football. Jim's grandfather Joe Stynes was an All-Ireland Gaelic footballer with Dublin (1923).

Stynes' younger brother Brian won an All-Ireland with Dublin (1995). Jim played against Brian in the International Rules Series against Ireland many times. Brian followed Jim to play professional Australian Rules at Melbourne; however, he returned to Ireland having played just 2 senior games in 1992.[51]